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Ander Herrera to Barcelona: Journalists give update on potential sale of Man Utd star
ANDER HERRERA may not get into the Barcelona starting line-up if he was to leave Manchester United for the La Liga giants this summer, according to European football expert Gabriele Marcotti.
Michael Owen: Anders Herrera has become Mourinho's favourite
Herrera has been linked with a return to Spain three years after leaving following a strong campaign under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.
Barcelona yesterday evening announced the appointment of Ernesto Valverde as manager to replace Luis Enrique, who has previously managed Herrera at Athletic Bilbao.
Valverde is a fan of the 27-year-old but Marcotti doesn't think Mourinho will want to let him leave Old Trafford just yet.
"With Herrera, he's a guy who he had before for one year at Athletic Bilbao before he moved on," Marcotti said on ESPNFC.
Gabriele Marcotti doesn't think Ander Herrera would expect to get in Barcelona's starting XI
I'm also not 100 per cent certain that Ander Herrera necessarily feels that he could walk into the Barcelona team, whereas now he is a key player at Manchester United
"He's spoken highly of him, they like his versatility, Spanish media are going big with this at this stage.
"I'm not 100 per cent sure he's somebody that Mourinho would want to give up lightly.
"I'm also not 100 per cent certain that Herrera necessarily feels that he could walk into the Barcelona team, whereas now he is a key player at Manchester United."
Spanish football journalist Sid Lowe also cannot see Herrera switching Old Trafford for the Nou Camp and does not think it would be a good move for his career.
Sid Lowe believes a move to Barcelona for Man Utd star Ander Herrera would be a wrong choice
"Getting Ander Herrera out of Manchester United, even in the case of Barcelona being interested, would be extremely expensive and isn't necessarily a priority right now," he said.
"And also in truth from Ander Herrera's point of view, I'm not sure it's the right move for him.
"He's become a key player at Manchester United, I think he is potentially a future captain, so I don't really see it."
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